{"id":2282881,"date":"2024-06-24T18:04:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T22:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/atheists-seething-as-huge-international-soccer-tournament-kicks-off-with-sermonette-and-prayer-in-jesus-name\/"},"modified":"2024-06-24T18:09:07","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T22:09:07","slug":"atheists-seething-as-huge-international-soccer-tournament-kicks-off-with-sermonette-and-prayer-in-jesus-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/atheists-seething-as-huge-international-soccer-tournament-kicks-off-with-sermonette-and-prayer-in-jesus-name\/","title":{"rendered":"Atheists Seething as Huge International Soccer Tournament Kicks Off with Sermonette and Prayer in Jesus&#8217; Name"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fatheists-seething-as-huge-international-soccer-tournament-kicks-off-with-sermonette-and-prayer-in-jesus-name%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2282881&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The opening ceremony of\u200b the\u2063 20291 Copa Am\u00e9rica held\u200c in Atlanta, Georgia, has sparked \u200ccontroversy primarily due to its \u200binclusion of Christian prayers and brief \u200csermons. This religious element has triggered significant backlash particularly from the atheist \u2062community. The event,\u200d celebrated for\u200c its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-homes-are-bought-and-sold-may-change-drastically-due-to-multi-billion-dollar-lawsuits\/\" title=\"Multi-billion dollar lawsuits may drastically alter the way homes are bought and sold.\">century-long history<\/a> and representation of multiple nations, began with Christian pastors delivering messages and\u2064 prayers, intertwining religious sentiments with the sports event. Notably, this move upset various secularists and atheists\u2064 who voiced their discontent particularly on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elon-musks-x-restructuring-curtails-disinformation-research-spurs-legal-fears\/\" title=\"Elon Musk's X restructure hampers disinformation research, raises legal concerns.\">social\u2063 platforms<\/a> like Reddit and X, arguing\u200c that sports events should remain\u2064 secular and inclusive. Critics argue that mixing \u200breligion\u2062 with sports alienates \u2062and imposes beliefs\u2063 on spectators with differing\u2064 views. Meanwhile,\u200b supporters of the inclusion argue that it offers messages of \u2062hope,\u200b peace, and unity. The discourse has \u200copened up broader debates on the\u200d role of religion in public spheres \u200dand the nature of inclusivity and secularism in communal events.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/sports\/\">  Sports <\/a>    <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/%20\"><span>Michael Schwarz<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 24, 2024 at 1:16pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>After <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-is-an-uninspiring-candidate-says-charlamagne-tha-god\/\" title=\"Charlamagne tha God finds Biden unimpressive\">dominating public discourse<\/a> for decades, atheists have begun to shriek as the lie of secularism erodes before their eyes.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Copa Am\u00e9rica soccer tournament at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, officially kicked off the huge, <a href=\"https:\/\/copaamerica.com\/en\/news\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-conmebol-copa-america\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">multi-nation soccer tournament<\/a> that boasts a history going back more than a century. The ceremonies\u00a0featured a Christian prayer and brief sermon that sent atheists online into fits of apoplexy.<\/p>\n<p>On the social-media site Reddit, for instance, one user called the devotional moment \u201cabsolutely disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll these Christians are saying \u2018cry about it\u2019 \u2018you\u2019re offended\u2019 but if it was a pride thing they would be trying to cancel everything. The only thing that should be going on at sporting events is sports,\u201d the same user wrote.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-embed-height=\"260\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/atheism\/comments\/1dkqijy\/comment\/l9jr0ve\/\">Comment<\/a><br \/>  by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/user\/KeeperCrow\/\">u\/KeeperCrow<\/a> from discussion<br \/> in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/atheism\/\">atheism<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>There you have the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/before-running-into-the-streets-to-tell-other-people-what-to-do-try-governing-yourself\/\" title=\"Before Running Into The Streets To Tell Other People What To Do, Try Governing Yourself\">modern secular mind<\/a>. At best, it regards prayer and LGBTQ-\u201cpride\u201d as equals.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, we seldom see the modern secular mind at its best \u2014 hence the proliferation of \u201cpride\u201d-related nonsense in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/kamala-harris-roasted-bragging-welcoming-bearded-man-dress-white-house-embarrassing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">politics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/students-beg-school-administrators-move-pride-flag-causing-harm-good\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">education<\/a> and even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/baseball-team-stands-ground-refuses-join-rest-mlb-hosting-pride-month-celebration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sporting events<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/chvnradio.com\/articles\/copa-america-kicks-off-with-prayer-and-controversy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CHVN-FM<\/a> \u2014 a Manitoba, Canada-based radio station focused on <a href=\"https:\/\/chvnradio.com\/christian-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christian news<\/a> and music \u2014\u00a0 the offending display of piety involved two Christian pastors, one of whom prayed and spoke in Spanish and the other in English.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Does America need more prayer in public places?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cGod bless America. Christ\u2019s message is still valid today and he called us to peace, understanding, and forgiveness. He also told us to believe, because the one who believes, everything is possible. These words encourage us not to be discouraged, to believe big, and believe that everything can be done,\u201d Paraguayan pastor Emilio Aguero Esgaib said in Spanish, CHVN reported, citing a Paraguayan news source.<\/p>\n<p>Juan Cruz Cellamare, president of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aelatina.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alianza Evang\u00e9lica Latina<\/a> (Latin Evangelical Alliance), described Esgaib\u2019s appearance at the tournament as deliberate in delivering the message.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe message of the cross, symbolizing peace, hope and forgiveness, was the central message of the opening ceremony of Copa America 2024,\u201d Cellamare said according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christiandaily.com\/news\/copa-america-starts-with-a-powerful-christian-message.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christian Daily International<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know pastor Emilio Aguero Esgaib personally and I celebrate his involvement in such an important event as Copa America, lifting up the message of the Cross. I also know the chairman of Conmebol (Confederaci\u00f3n Sudamericana de F\u00fatbol) Alejandro Dominguez, a man of faith and Christian life,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Then, the English-speaking pastor, who was not identified, followed Esgaib.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to always thank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fathers-prepared-battle-leading-armor-god\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">God<\/a> for the life, opportunities, protection, and peace He provides,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJesus said, \u2018I have come that they may have life and have it in all its fullness.\u2019 A full life consists of love for each other, forgiveness towards each other, and unity with each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is possible when we focus on God, the source of life. God, we ask your blessing over the tournament, the nations represented, the teams, players, and families. May Your peace, Your protection, be upon all, in Jesus\u2019 name, Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calls-to-boycott-ufc-erupt-after-mega-deal-with-bud-light-is-announced\/\" title=\"'Boycott UFC' calls surge following Bud Light's mega deal announcement.\">social media user posted<\/a> a 45-second clip of the prayer to X. Readers may view it below.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The opening ceremony for Copa Am\u00e9rica 2024 included a Bible reading, a short sermon, and prayer. We are so back. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ChristIsKing?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ChristIsKing<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WEC65oZyVt\">pic.twitter.com\/WEC65oZyVt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Caldron Pool (@CaldronPool) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaldronPool\/status\/1804479247165305183?\">June 22, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Secularists on Reddit\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/former-atheist-converts-christianity-atheism-failed-answer-simple-question\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">atheism<\/a> forum and elsewhere howled in opposition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was awful! Why they should permit it?! Pushing their beliefs to people\u2019s using sport! Just awful!\u201d one Reddit user wrote.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-embed-height=\"240\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/atheism\/comments\/1dkqijy\/comment\/l9juavf\/\">Comment<\/a><br \/>  by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/user\/KeeperCrow\/\">u\/KeeperCrow<\/a> from discussion<br \/> in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/atheism\/\">atheism<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cYeah, never see that before. Religion and politics are the two things that should be nowhere near sports,\u201d another user wrote.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-embed-height=\"240\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/CanadaSoccer\/comments\/1dkqh5x\/comment\/l9jqsts\/\">Comment<\/a><br \/>  by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/user\/Ill_Protection_3562\/\">u\/Ill_Protection_3562<\/a> from discussion<br \/> in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/CanadaSoccer\/\">CanadaSoccer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>One X user demanded the great secular lie of inclusivity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s keep our sport secular and open to everyone, please and thank you,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BeardScript\/status\/1803944677885821069\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">user wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Therein lies the great deception. A thing cannot be both \u201csecular\u201d and \u201copen to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prayer involves humble appeal to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/makes-man-christian-coalition-publishes-statement-godly-masculinity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">God<\/a>, the supreme power in the universe and the source of all good. Secularism suppresses that appeal by rendering it private so as not to offend those who believe in no such power.<\/p>\n<p>We have freedom to choose, of course. But when we make that choice we choose between two rival conceptions of the universe, not between inclusion or exclusion.<\/p>\n<p>At its core, atheism offers only hopelessness and death. It dehumanizes us with a materialistic determinism that posits our existence as an accidental result of subatomic particles that happened to arrange themselves in a way that first produced organic life and then \u2014 eventually \u2014 us.<\/p>\n<p>Christian beliefss, on the other hand, offer forgiveness of sins, union with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/city-manager-bans-jesus-prayers-says-harassing-hostile-use-name-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jesus<\/a> and eternal life in Heaven.<\/p>\n<p>Suppressing prayer means choosing atheism. And everyone, including sports fans, must know that. They need not answer to any human authority, but eventually they must make their choice, one way or another.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>In just a few months, the world is going to change forever. The 2024 election is the single most important election of our lifetime. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We here at The Western Journal are committed to covering it in a way the establishment media simply will not: We will tell the truth, and they will lie.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech and the elites don\u2019t want the truth out. That\u2019s why they have cut us off from 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone cut your monthly income by 90%. That\u2019s what they\u2019ve done to people like us. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>As a staff, we are asking you to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to fight this once-in-a-lifetime fight. Without you not only will The Western Journal fail, but America will fail also. As Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Will you support The Western Journal today and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>become a member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A Western Journal <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>This is the time. America will live or die based on what happens this year. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to get the real truth out and to fight the elites, Big Tech, and the people who want America to fail. Together, we really can save the country.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Thank you for your support!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Please stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"after-article-tags\">\n<p>  Tags:<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/argentina\/\" rel=\"tag\">Argentina<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/atheism\/\" rel=\"tag\">Atheism<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/canada\/\" rel=\"tag\">Canada<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/christianity\/\" rel=\"tag\">Christianity<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/georgia\/\" rel=\"tag\">Georgia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/god\/\" rel=\"tag\">God<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/jesus-christ\/\" rel=\"tag\">Jesus Christ<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/prayer\/\" rel=\"tag\">Prayer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/religion\/\" rel=\"tag\">Religion<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/soccer\/\" rel=\"tag\">Soccer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/south-america\/\" rel=\"tag\">South America<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/sports\/\" rel=\"tag\">Sports<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/world-news\/\" rel=\"tag\">World news<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45760\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45760\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45760\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45760\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45760\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Michael Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in History and has taught at multiple colleges and universities. He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Michael Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in History and has taught at multiple colleges and universities. He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sports By Michael Schwarz June 24, 2024, 1:16pm Atheists are reacting as secularism&#8217;s influence wanes. The 2024 Copa Am\u00e9rica began with opening ceremonies at Atlanta&#8217;s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, marking the start of the grand multi-nation soccer event<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2056,"featured_media":2282882,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pastors-for-june-24-2024.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[20725,32525,32527,11817,32526],"class_list":["post-2282881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-atheists","tag-international-soccer-tournament","tag-jesus-name","tag-prayer","tag-sermonette"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pastors-for-june-24-2024.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2282881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2056"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2282881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2282881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2282882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2282881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2282881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2282881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}